Thompson 'spree' prompts officials to seek more police funding

For weeks, Thompson officials and residents have talked of a burglary spree in town, a concern that prompted selectmen to propose adding several thousand dollars into next year’s budget for more police coverage.

For weeks, Thompson officials and residents have talked of a burglary spree in town, a concern that prompted selectmen to propose adding several thousand dollars into next year’s budget for more police coverage.

But according to state police officials, there hasn’t been a rash of home burglaries this year. In fact, burglaries were at the same level last month as a year ago, and the town is on track for coming in well below the national average for such crimes again this year.

“There were three burglaries reported in January, three in February and two so far this month,” said Lt. Tim Madden, commander of the Troop D state police barracks in Danielson. “The national average for those kinds of crimes, for a town Thompson’s size, is 70 per year. If things stay as they are, they’ll be at the half that average by the end of the year.”

Police responded to 53 burglaries in Thompson in 2011 and 27 last year, Madden said.

In reaction to the burglary rumors, selectmen recently added $10,000 to the proposed 2013-14 budget. The money was planned to supplement the current state police coverage of the town by adding patrols, something Madden said isn’t feasible.

“We’re not like a private security firm,” he said. “We can’t just add more patrols to a town. That’s what the resident state trooper program is for.”

On 2007, Thomspon residents declined to continue funding the resident trooper program, a move that saved the town $130,000.

First Selectmen Larry Groh Jr said he was recently made aware of the burglary statistics, but said he’s been told by retired state Department of Public Safety workers that the town could request the additional police patrols.

“I’m waiting on a letter from the commissioner before we take the next step on this issue,” he said. “If we are told we can’t pay for those extra patrols, the money will be taken out.”

Groh said he suspects the emotional nature of the recent burglaries put some residents on edge.

“People do know some of the residents who’ve been robbed, and that can be concerning,” he said. “I would be willing to discuss the trooper program again.”

Thompson resident Debbie Ford said she’s not sure whether bringing back the resident trooper program is the right move.

“I’d really need to hear more about it,” she said. “These troopers can’t be everywhere. This is an area where homes are spread out from one another, and unlike when I grew up, people don’t seem to know their neighbors as well.”